It’s been a while since we reviewed some wines, and we’ve had two fun ones recently. I thought I’d share.

Small Gully Mr. Black’s Concoction 2004 Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley, Australia:I first had this when we went to Bouquet in January. I loved it and searched everywhere for it. Well, it’s finally appearing. The plain Shiraz is available at Liquor Direct and the Shiraz-Viognier that I tried is now at Party Town Turfway. (Apparently, it’s been at Party Town since shortly after I asked for it, which is great service that I didn’t follow up on.) Mr Black’s Shiraz-Viognier Concoction consists of 4% Viognier, 96% Shiraz, and it has a powerful and fragrant bouquet. This is a high-alcohol fruit bomb. I don’t know why I like it so much – it’s not my normal style at all. I find it to be well-balanced; I could feel the alcohol but I couldn’t taste it. The fruit seems to contain the wine and it didn’t seem "hot." To say it is fruit-forward is an understatement, though. There are all sorts of berries and cherries and dark fruits, all racing to get to your tongue first. It’s definitely jammy. This Concoction is a big wine, there’s no doubt about it, but it’s also a fun wine. I’m not sure how it would work with a meal, but it pairs well with cheese. It retails for around $20 at Party Town.Our rating:

Now for the opposite end of the spectrum:

2006 Abacela Rosado, Southern Oregon:This rosé is the sort of rosé that even people who won’t drink pink would enjoy. Kevin is proof enough of that. Often stating that he "hasn’t found his inner pink," this rosé is one that he enjoys. As it should be, the Abacela Rosado is a dry rosé, made of 93% Tempranillo and 7% grenache. It’s loaded with strawberry, cranberry, and some citrus. This rosé is immensely food friendly. We first had it with Easter dinner, then our second bottle last week we drank without food. It complemented the ham at Easter but can stand on its own without a problem. As far as rosés go, this one has some heft ,thanks in part to its nice dry finish. Don’t expect this to be flabby, sugary, or reminiscent of Kool-Aid like some roses can be. It was recommended to us by Kevin Keith at Liquor Direct, and we appreciate the recommendation!Our rating: